E-cigarettes are “95% less harmful than smoking” says report

E-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco and more helpful in quitting smoking says a new report

Published:07:00Monday 31 August 2015

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A new report claims that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful to health than tobacco and have the potential to help smokers quit smoking.

The findings, published by Public Health England (PHE), e-cigarettes are around 95 per cent less harmful than smoking.

The report adds that nearly half the population do not realise e-cigarettes are much less harmful than smoking.

And it claims that there is no evidence that e-cigarettes are acting as a route into smoking for children or non-smokers.

A spokesman said: “E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm. However, people increasingly think they are at least as harmful and this may be keeping millions of smokers from using them to help quit smoking for good.”

Public Health England is a government agency which promotes good health across the country.

Its report highlights evidence that some of the highest successful quit rates are for smokers who use an e-cigarette and also receive additional support from their local stop smoking services.

Most counties have a Stop Smoking Service which provides free advice and support to help people give up smoking. It welcomes people who have chosen to give up using e-cigarettes and would actively encourage people to contact the service to speak to a specialist who can support their quit attempt, as this will make it much more likely that they will be successful in stopping smoking.